Shangri-La II Gears Up for the 2011 Racing Season

The time for winter racing shows is over. The time for spring and real racing is drawing closer, and Shangri-La II Motor Speedway will be ready.

In recent weeks, Shangri-La II and sister track Skyview Drags have participated in both Southern Tier Speed World at the Oakdale Mall in Johnson City and the Motorsports Expo at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

At Johnson City, the Schneider family's ASA late model and one of the potent Zacharias No. 71 modifieds were featured in the Concrete Castle's booth, while at Syracuse Bryan Sherwood's sportsman modified was the centerpiece of the exhibit. At both shows, hundreds of fans picked up schedules for the 2011 season.

The third season of competition at the Concrete Castle opens Sunday, May 15 with the return of the ROC'n Concrete Rumble for the Race of Champions Modified Series. Last year Chuck Hossfeld made a dramatic late-race pass of Pete Brittain in turn one to win before the largest crowd in Shangri-La II history.

Hossfeld is expected back to defend his victory along with the rest of the RoC stars in the 100-lap main event on May 15. The date falls in the middle of a month-long break in the NASCAR tour schedule, so some of New England's top modified names may choose to make the trek to the Southern Tier. All the track's regular divisions will be in action on May 15, with race time at 1:00 p.m.

There's an added attraction for fans at Shangri-La II on May 15. The 50/50 jackpot from the inaugural ROC'n Concrete Rumble, worth over $1,000, was never claimed and has been held safely over the winter. That impressive jackpot will be the starting point for the opening day 50/50.

The Race of Champions Modified Series will return to Shangri-La II Motor Speedway on Saturday, July 9, for another 100-lap showdown.

After a week off, Shangri-La II will begin its regular season on Saturday, May 28, at 7:00 p.m. The track will race every week at that time through Labor Day weekend with two exceptions. The third week of June will see racing on Thursday night, June 16, due to the IHRA Pro-Am Series drag racing weekend at Skyview Drags. Then the Concrete Castle will be closed the weekend of July 21-23 in cooperation with the 61st annual Sunoco Rsce of Champions at Owego Speedway.

Saturday night at the races has a great tradition in Tioga County, dating back to the early 1960's. The tradition continues at Shangri-La II Motor Speedway in 2011.